A decades old conflict has reared its ugly head as violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan returns to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Fighting broke out along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact on September 27^th, 2020, with both sides instituting martial law and mobilizing their forces the next day. Since then, thousands of soldiers have been killed.

The Line of Contact in Nagorno-Karabakh was established after a ceasefire agreement that brought the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988 and 1994) to an end. With roots that can be traced back to the First World War and beyond, this bitter ethnic conflict simmered for decades and re-ignited again in the late 1980s. In what first began as a relatively calm debate over whether the region would unite with Armenia, it grew increasingly more hostile as the collapse of the Soviet Union become imminent. Both sides accused the other of committing ethnic cleansing operations and pogroms. Over 30,000 soldiers and civilians died during the six-year conflict with hostilities coming to an end in 1994 when Russia brokered a ceasefire. Some estimates place the number of displaced persons well over one million. Multiple sources report that the war left both parties with strong animosity for the other. Since then, the line became heavily fortified and clashes between the two sides have continued. For example, in April 2016 Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a four-day war along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line and 350 combatants and civilians died as a result.

The BBC has stated that since fighting began again this year, over 70,000 individuals have been displaced. Vladimir Putin has publicly declared that over 5000 individuals have already perished because of the conflict. On October 10^th, 2020, the Red Cross facilitated a parley between the two, and at that time Russia was able to broker a ceasefire. However, both sides accused the other of violating the truce shortly after the deal was stuck and the fighting has continued since.

There have been numerous reports of civilian casualties from both Armenia and Azerbaijan. For instance:

• September 27^th – A woman and a child were killed as a result of shelling in Martuni province. Two other civilians were wounded in the same attack. Reports indicate there was significant damage to civilian areas, including a school.
• September 28^th – Reports surfaced detailing shelling of civilian areas.
• October 10^th – Aremnpress reported that an “Azerbaijani subversive group killed two civilians … in their home – a mother and her son with disability.”
• October 17^th – Eight civilians were killed in Artsakh according to Armenian authorities.

The city of Ganja in Azerbaijan has been bombed multiple times:

• October 4^th – One civilian was killed, over 30 wounded.
• October 11^th – Seven civilians were killed, and 33 were wounded.
• October 17^th – 15 civilians were killed, and over 55 wounded

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan blame the other for restarting the conflict. Turkey has been vocal in support for Azerbaijan. Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin characterized their relationship as “one nation, two states,” and stated that what happens in Azerbaijan is of direct concern to Turkey. Some have accused Turkey of recruiting Syrian fighters to fight in Azerbaijan, which they have flatly denied. International observers highlight the rich oil fields in Azerbaijan, which allowed them to finance their new army as a possible motivation for Turkey’s involvement in the conflict.

The UN has issued many declarations over the years in an attempt to end the tensions, as have numerous other organizations such as the OSCE’s Minsk Group; however, none of them have been successful in bridging the mistrust each side has for the other. The World Health Organisation has reported that COVID-19 cases in Armenia have doubled and risen by 80% in Azerbaijan. Case numbers are likely to continue to spike if the conflict continues unabated, increasing the dangers for civilians. While another ceasefire may not solve this endemic conflict, it is of vital importance that hostilities end for those who are living through this latest round of warfare.